That child is a potential threat and needs to be handled.
What would Father do?
I can practically hear his voice.It needs to be killed, Pasha.It cannot be allowed to live.
But I don’t know if I can actually kill a baby.
My nightmares about torturing a man my daughter loves swim to the forefront of my mind once more. So do the images of a man bleeding to death—and the man turning into Liya.
I don’t have the stomach to think of it.
But what choice do I have with her sitting right here?
Things were different not too long ago. I was going to snatch her child and kick her to the curb. I was going to use that child to gain power in the Citta Nostra. I was going to do everything I could to make sure that Jonas and Felix were handled.
With a single bullet, everything changed.
And now, learning about Zoya’s littlehappy accidenthas made it all the worse.
She’s a target now. Which means we have to act fast.
Do I risk my seat of power?I meet Liya’s vacant gaze, wondering what thoughts are tumbling through that beautiful head of hers.Or do I kill another member of Liya’s family?
Then, another realization hits me.
It’s not a question of whether or not I do.
But a question of whether or not I can.
Chapter Three
Liya
“What are you thinking, Pavel?”
I can see it on his face—he’s scheming. I’m not the only one who’s bad at faking my emotions.
And he’s trying his best not to tell me what’s on his mind.
Two can play this game.
“You realize what this means,” he states blandly. “Our child has competition.”
I shake my head. “That baby is our child’s cousin.”
“That child is anaccident.”
I bristle. “Is that supposed to make a difference? Does that make it any less valuable?”
He throws his hands in the air as he paces around the other side of the table. If the carpet showed the places he paced, there would be pathways winding through this entire penthouse suite. The office, the library, the den, the living room, the terrace—nowhere is safe from his busy pacing.
It’s what helps him think. But right now, I don’t need him thinking. I need himlistening.
“Tell me what you’re considering, Pavel. Don’t you dare hide this from me.”
“Why? So you can convince me otherwise?”
“So we can worktogether.”